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    6 December 2017

    Mazda once offered all-wheel drive versions of its 323 and 6 you may have forgotten about.

    By Mitchell TulkMitchell Tulk
    The 323 GTR was like a small WRX, before the WRX even existed.

    All-wheel drive could be on the way for Mazda's non-SUVs, but this isn't the first time.

    Between 80 and 90 per cent of premium sedans sold in the USA have the option of all-wheel drive and Mazda might be about to add AWD to the future 3 and 6 models to help with sales in the States.

    However, this wouldn’t be the first time Mazda has offered an AWD variant of it’s sedan and hatchback with the likes of the 6 and 323 having four driven wheels back in the day.

    Mazda6 MPS

    • Unlike the Mazda 3 MPS, the 6 doesn't look brash. Unlike the Mazda 3 MPS, the 6 doesn't look brash.
    • The big round exhaust tips might look cool, but they're fake. The big round exhaust tips might look cool, but they're fake.
    • The interior looks almost identical to that of a standard 6. The interior looks almost identical to that of a standard 6.
    • Still to this day, the 2.3-litre, turbo, four cylinder is one of Mazda's most powerful production engines. Still to this day, the 2.3-litre, turbo, four cylinder is one of Mazda's most powerful production engines.

    During the mid-2000s, Mazda had a performance car for all enthusiasts, if you wanted a sports car there was the RX-8 and MX-5, if you wanted a hot hatch there was the 3 MPS, and if you wanted a sports sedan there was this, the 6 MPS.

    Using the same 190kW/380Nm 2.3-litre turbocharged four cylinder found in the 3 MPS, the 6 boasted an AWD system that allowed the car to reach 100km/h in a respectable 6.5sec.

    It was a direct competitor to Subaru’s Liberty GT but was short lived, only lasting between 2005-08.

    Mazda 323 GTR/X

    • The GTX and GTR made for decent rally cars. (image credit: ahOOt13) The GTX and GTR made for decent rally cars. (image credit: ahOOt13)
    • The turbo and 4WD stickers give away the GTX's sleeper look. The turbo and 4WD stickers give away the GTX's sleeper look.
    • Super simply interior. (image credit: Right Foot Down) Super simply interior. (image credit: Right Foot Down)
    • The same engine could be found in the Ford Laser TX3 Turbo. (image credit: Right Foot Down) The same engine could be found in the Ford Laser TX3 Turbo. (image credit: Right Foot Down)

    Before the Mazda3 there was the 323, the company’s major small hatchback for 26 years, while during the late '80s and early '90s, there was the rally-esk GTR and GTX.

    These hatchbacks had a turbocharged 1.8-litre, four cylinder that produced 154kW (GTR) and 136kW (GTX) that sent power to all four wheels.

    While us Aussies got the GTX for a short time, we're more familiar with Ford’s version, the Laser TX3 Turbo 4WD which used the same engine but produced less power (118kW/206Nm).

    What’s your favourite AWD Mazda? Let us know in the comments.

     

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